LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

Kadamane Tea Estate
Nestled in 6,392 acres of Sakleshpur’s rolling hills, this glorious tea plantation is one of the oldest and largest in the area. On Sundays, the factory is open to the public allowing you to discover the tea leaf’s journey from the plant, to its final destination in your cup!

Manzarabad Fort Used by Tipu Sultan, as a training ground for his soldiers in the seventeenth century, this star shaped fort is surrounded by a moat, has three entrances, nine viewpoints and a cross in the centre. It is believed that there are two underground passages from the fort, that lead to Tipu Sultan’s other residences in Srirangapatna and Mysore.

Green Route Trek Is the 52 kilometre railway segment from Sakleshpur to Subramanya, that is very popular with trekkers in the Western Ghats. Comprised of 58 tunnels, 109 bridges and 25 waterfalls, the trek offers stunning wilderness and can be joined at Donigal, which is a short stroll from NIRVRTA.

Belur Chennakesava Temple was started in 1117 AD and took 103 years to complete. Complex sculptures and friezes cover the façade of the temple and intricate workmanship includes elephants, lions, horses and stories from the Indian mythological epics. Belur is also the home of the Patanjali temple.

Halebid Dating back to 1121 AD, this impressive Hoysalewara temple (that took over 86 years to build), is guarded by two striking Nandi Bulls and is magnificently covered by a wealth of sculptural depictions from Hindu mythology, animals, birds and dancing figures.

Dharmasthala This Shiva temple (whose principle object of worship is the linga), attracts 10,000 pilgrims a day and its kitchen provides free food for all visitors. Dharmasthala observes religious tolerance and has Hindu and Jain devotes working together.

Shravanabelagola Is one of the most important sacred places for Jains in South India. It is a significant temple for both pilgrimages and archeological heritage. The monolithic idol of Lord Bahubali is built from smooth grey granite and stands at an overpowering height of 17 metres.

Kukke Subramanya Another pilgrimage location in India, this temple is dedicated to Lord Subramanya, the son of Lord Shiva. Here he is worshipped as the Lord of Snakes. A river runs in front of the temple, whilst a mountain provides the background. Pilgrims have to cross the river, to reach the temple.

Bisle View Point & Nature Reserve A valley with a river flowing through it and mountain ranges from three districts, can be seen from the forestry department’s beauty spot of Bisle View Point. Bisle Reserve Forest is the home of king cobras, tigers, deer, peacocks, foxes, numerous species of birds and stunning flora and fauna (many of which are unique this region of the Western Ghats).

Hemavathi River, Gorur Dam & Shettihalli Holy Rosary Church Beginning in the Western Ghats, the Hemavati is an important tributary of the Kaveri River and is 245 kilometres long. The Hemavathi River is impounded behind the Gorur Dam, which is situated about 12km from Hassan. The reservoir is also a pilgrim spot, due to the notable temples located near by and Gorur Dam is a popular tourist destination (for puja offerings). The Holy Rosary Church of Shettihalli was built in 1860 by French Missionaries, but when the dam was built, the entire village had to evacuate. People moved on with their belongings, leaving the church surrounded by water.

Bylakuppe Established in 1969, Bylakuppe is a Tibetan refugee settlement and its magnificent Golden Temple, is home for thousands of Tibetans living in exile. It is also a centre for Tibetan Buddhism in South India and has a population of about 10,000. It consists of a number of small camps/agricultural settlements and has several monasteries, nunneries and temples (in all the major Tibetan Buddhist traditions).